Gatwick: Invitation to submit views on runway plans to end

Gatwick's northern runway (centre of photo) could be open by 2029, the airport says

Members of the public have until late on Sunday to make their views known to the Planning Inspectorate on Gatwick Airport's growth plans.

The airport wants to use its emergency runway for routine flights alongside its main runway, to add capacity.

Gatwick says its plans would create about 14,000 new jobs and inject £1bn into the region's economy each year.

However, the £2.2bn project has drawn criticism from campaigners and concern from local authorities.

Gatwick's application to bring its northern runway into routine use was accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate on 3 August.

By submitting a "relevant representation" to become an "interested party", people will be able to summarise their views, will be kept informed of progress and have the opportunity to provide further representations during the examination phase, the inspectorate said.

The registration period had been due to end on 29 October but due to a technical issue with submissions on the National Infrastructure Planning website, this was extended to 23:59 GMT on Sunday.

Anyone who submitted a representation via email due to the fault has been asked to resubmit it via the online form in order for it to be valid.

If the plans are approved, construction on the runway could start in 2025 and would be completed and ready for operational use by the end of the decade, the airport said.

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